Stove Burner Knob

ABSTRACT

A system for heating and/or cooking food whose upper heating limit is adjustable. An energy setting assembly is provided with the system that includes a knob, a restrictor plate, and a limit pin. The limit pin is selectively inserted into openings formed along multiple locations in the restrictor plate, where the openings follow a generally curved path. The knob rotatably mounts over and is generally coaxial with the restrictor plate. Rotating the knob regulates heat output of the system. Web members are formed on the knob and that project in a radial direction from a receptacle in the knob. The web members come into interfering contact with the limit pin when knob is rotated to a designated orientation, so that strategically locating the limit pin, limits angular movement of the knob to the designated orientation, thereby limiting a maximum energy input to the system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Invention

The present disclosure relates to a system for limiting input to a heating apparatus. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a control system for adjusting a maximum setting for a cooking unit.

2. Description of Prior Art

Systems for heating and/or cooking food typically generate thermal energy with a heating element powered by electricity or by combusting fuel. Example systems include ranges, stoves, ovens, grills, burners, hot plates, and the like. Control knobs are usually provided with the systems for regulating the amount of thermal energy produced by the systems when heating and/or cooking the food. While too much energy can overcook or burn the food, excess energy can also damage cookware, cook tops, or hardware associated with the cooking system, such as electrical components that control the systems. Moreover, too high a temperature can present a fire hazard; kitchen fires are the number one cause of home fires and home injuries. This hazard is especially present when oil is used for cooking, as oil can combust when exposed to a temperature that exceeds its flash temperature. Ranges or cooktops are responsible for almost six times as many fires than ovens, and electrically powered ranges present a higher risk of fires and associated losses than gas ranges.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein is an example of an energy setting assembly for use with a food preparation system which includes a knob having a receptacle that selectively couples with an energy controller that regulates thermal output of the food preparation system, so that moving the knob moves the energy controller to selectively adjust thermal output of the food preparation system. Also included in this example are a web member coupled to and extending radially from the receptacle and that follows a path when the knob is actuated; a restrictor plate affixed to be stationary with respect to the knob, openings formed at different locations in the restrictor plate, and a limit pin having a portion protruding through a one of the openings and into the path of the web member, so that when the web member contacts the limit pin and blocks further movement of the knob, the energy controller regulates thermal output of the food preparation system to a designated value which is less than a maximum thermal output of the food preparation system.

The restrictor plate can be made from a disk like member that includes a planar deck, and wherein the openings are formed through the deck. In this example the openings can be formed along a generally curved path along the deck. Optionally, a center portion of the deck is recessed and contains holes that receive fasteners for securing the restrictor plate to the food preparation system; and wherein a slot can be formed adjacent the holes. The limit pin can include a base that is generally planar and has a curved lateral surface and an upper surface, and a pin member that mounts to the upper surface, and wherein the pin member protrudes through the selective openings in the restrictor plate. The curved lateral surface of the base can correspond to an outer circumference of a recessed portion of the restrictor plate. The knob can include a base portion with curved sidewalls that define a cavity within in which the receptacle and web members are located, and wherein the limit pin protrudes into the cavity. The energy controller can be a rheostat or a control valve for regulating a flow of fuel to the food preparation system. The food preparation system can be an electric stovetop, a gas stovetop, an oven, a grill, or combinations thereof.

Another example of an energy setting assembly for use with a food preparation system includes a restrictor plate having openings formed therethrough, and a knob that is rotatable with respect to the restrictor plate and that is for attachment to an energy controller that regulates a thermal energy output of the food preparation system, so that rotating the knob in turn rotates the energy controller and adjusts the thermal energy output of the food preparation system. The energy setting assembly of this embodiment also includes a web member in the knob, and a limit pin strategically inserted through a one of the openings in the restrictor plate, so that when the knob is rotated a designated amount, the web member is put into interfering contact against the limit pin, and energy controller is at an angular orientation which regulates the thermal energy output of the food preparation system to be at an amount that is less than a designated thermal energy output. The designated thermal energy output can be sufficient to heat an amount of cooking oil to a temperature that exceeds a flashpoint of the cooking oil. The openings can be formed along a curved path. In one example, the knob and restrictor plate are generally coaxial with one another. Optionally, an outer portion of the restrictor plate defines a ring, and which as a radius greater than a radius of the knob. In an alternative, the thermal energy output is from one of a burner or a heating element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Some of the features and benefits of the present invention having been stated, others will become apparent as the description proceeds when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of an example of an energy setting assembly for use with a cooking system.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lower surface of an example of a knob for use with the energy setting assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective overhead view of an example of a restrictor plate for use with the energy setting assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a lower surface of an example of the restrictor plate of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an example of a cooking system having an example of the energy setting assembly of FIG. 1.

While the invention will be described in connection with the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to that embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The method and system of the present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which embodiments are shown. The method and system of the present disclosure may be in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the illustrated embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey its scope to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. In an embodiment, usage of the term “about” includes +/−5% of the cited magnitude. In an embodiment, usage of the term “substantially” includes +/−5% of the cited magnitude.

It is to be further understood that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the exact details of construction, operation, exact materials, or embodiments shown and described, as modifications and equivalents will be apparent to one skilled in the art. In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed illustrative embodiments and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation.

Shown in FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an energy setting assembly 10, and which is shown in an exploded view. The energy setting assembly 10 is used for adjusting an energy controller 11, which as will be described in more detail below regulates an amount of energy to an associated food preparation system 12 (FIG. 5); thereby affecting the thermal energy output of the food preparation system 12. Energy controller 11 is shown having a stem 13 that when rotated alters the amount of energy to the associated food preparation system 12. The energy setting assembly 10 includes a knob 14, a restrictor plate 16, and a limit pin 18. The limit pin 18 includes a planar base 20 which has a generally oval shape; an upper surface 21 of the base 20 includes an elongate pin member 22 mounted thereon.

In the example of FIG. 1, restrictor plate 16 is a generally planar member having a curved outer periphery and having a disk-like appearance. A series of openings 24 are shown axially formed through the restrictor plate 16, openings 24 in the illustrated example are generally round and are formed along a curved path that is substantially concentric with the outer periphery of the plate 16. Knob 14 includes a lower portion 26 which is shown having outer curved sidewalls and an upper surface 27 on which a ridge 28 is formed. Ridge 28 extends generally radially along the upper surface 27 and provides lateral surfaces for gripping the knob 14 so knob 14 can be rotated.

FIG. 2 shows in a side perspective view a lower surface of knob 14. Here, the outer sidewalls of lower surface 26 define a cavity 30 within the lower portion 26 and which is open to the outside of knob 14. An annular receptacle 32 is attached to the body of the knob 14 which projects to within cavity 30, and is formed to receive stem 13 from energy controller 11 (FIG. 1). An optional key 34 is shown extending axially along an inner surface of receptacle 32, and which may optionally mate with corresponding indentions within stem 13. Accordingly, rotation of knob 14 can adjust settings of energy controller 11 and increase or decrease the electricity or gas flowing into food preparation system 12 thus controlling the thermal energy output of the food preparation system 12 and its corresponding temperature. Further shown in FIG. 2 are web members 36, 38 that extend radially from an outer surface of receptacle 32 and into attaching contact with an inner surface of sidewalls of lower portion 26. Web members 36, 38 of FIG. 2 are illustrated as extending from a lower portion of cavity 30 and axially upwards to an upper section of the lower portion 26. Thus the heights of the web members 36, 38 exceed their respective widths. Optionally, web members 36, 38 may simply be rods or pins, with approximately the same widths and heights, and disposed at the roughly the same angular positions around the outer surface of receptacle 32 as the web members 36, 38.

FIG. 3 shows in a downward perspective view an example of the restrictor plate 16, and where restrictor plate 16 includes a planar deck 40 in its middle portion. Here the openings 24 are formed through the deck 40 and wherein the pin member 22 of limit pin 18 extends through one of the openings 24 to an upper surface of deck 40. A ring 42 is shown circumscribing deck 40 and extending a radial distance outward from the higher periphery of deck 40. Markings 43 are shown on the upper surface of ring 42 that can provide an indication of the heating levels of the food preparation system 12. Thus rotating knob 14 (FIG. 2) to align with a one of the markings in turn rotates stem 13 of energy controller 11 to a set orientation, which can deliver a designated amount of energy to the food preparation system 12. Correlating the markings 43 with the orientation of the stem 43 provides for the designated amount of energy to the food preparation system 12 to be appropriate for whatever food is being prepared. An inner portion of deck 40 is shown having a recess 44 and projects downward from the rest of the surface of deck 40. An inner recess 46 is shown having a generally clover leaf shape and defines an area that is recessed further from deck 40. On adjacent clover leaves, openings 48, 50 are shown that extend axially through restrictor plate 16. Openings 48, 50 can receive fasteners (not shown) for securing the restrictor plate 16 to food preparation system 12 so that the restrictor plate 16 is held stationary during operation; and so that the knob 14 can rotate with respect to restrictor plate 16. Also shown in inner recess 46 is a slot 52 which extends axially through inner recess portion 46 and restrictor plate 16 has a generally L shaped configuration. Slot 52 receives screws (not shown) that mount into an underlying rheostat (such as the energy controller 11 of FIG. 1). The configuration of slot 52 enables coupling restrictor plate 16 to rheostat without the need of removing screws that hold the rheostat in place. An advantage of the slot 52 is that with at least one screw holding the rheostat in place, the rheostat does not drop downward into the food preparation system 12 when trying to couple the restrictor plate 16 thereon.

FIG. 4 shows in a perspective view a lower surface of the restrictor plate 16 and depicts how limit pin 18 projects through a lower side of restrictor plate 16, and where base 20 provides a backstop so that the pin member 22 (FIG. 3) extends from the upper surface of deck 48 a designated length. The length of the pin member 22 above deck 40 should be so that when the knob 14 is rotated a designated angular amount, one of the web members 36, 38 comes into interfering contact with the pin member 22—thereby restricting the angular rotation of knob 14 to that angular amount. As such, the angular rotation of the stem 13 (FIG. 1) is thereby also limited by setting the pin member 22 through a selected one of the openings 24 in the stationary restrictor plate 16 so that the energy supplied to the food preparation system is at an amount no greater than what is considered to be designated amount. By strategically disposing limit pin 18 into one of the openings 24, that designated amount of thermal energy output can be set so that the corresponding temperature of any food being prepared is below that which can ignite what is being heated. Examples of such a temperature includes the combustion temperature of what is being cooked and a flash point of an oil used in food preparation. As shown, a number of openings 24 are provided so that the limit pin 18 can be set in any one of them, which provides significant flexibility in what thereby limiting the maximum amount of power that can be delivered to the food preparation system.

FIG. 5 shows in a perspective view one example of the food preparation system 12 having an upper surface with burners 56 located thereon and includes an oven 58. In the illustrated example, knobs 14 that are part of the energy setting assembly 10 of FIG. 1 are provided on the food preparation system 12 and for controlling the thermal energy output of the burner 56 or oven 58. As shown, this includes a door 60 with a glass portion 62, through the glass portion 62 a heating element 64 is visible, which can be controlled via rotation of the knobs 14 that make up the energy setting assemblies 10 provided on the food preparation system 12. Accordingly, the knob 14 for controlling power to the heating element 64 can have rotation that is limited by strategic setting of a limit pin 18 which is included with the energy setting assembly 10 associated with controlling the oven 58. Similarly, energy setting assemblies 10 for controlling energy to one of the burners 56, can also have designated settings of the limit pins 18 so that the thermal output of the specific burners 56 can be strategically adjusted.

The food preparation system 12 can be an electric stovetop, a gas stovetop, an oven, a grill, or combinations thereof. In examples where the food preparation system 12 is electrically powered, the energy controller 11 can be a rheostat. In optional embodiments when the food preparation system 12 operates by combustion of fuel, the energy controller 11 can be a control valve for regulating a flow of fuel to the food preparation system 12. In one non-limiting example of operation, the energy controller 11 (FIG. 1) is mechanically limited by how much it can be actuated, for example in embodiments where the stem 13 is rotated, its angular rotation in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction is restricted. Further optionally, the angular orientations of the stem 13 when at its maximum allowed clockwise or counterclockwise rotation (which is referred to herein in one example as a maximum or minimum setting of the energy controller 11) correspond to minimum and maximum (or vice versa) levels of energy being directed to the food preparation system 12 and regulated through the energy controller 11. In an embodiment a minimum level of energy to the food preparation system 12 is equivalent to an “off” setting so that no energy is being supplied to the food preparation system 12. The maximum setting of the energy controller 11 (or stem 13/knob 14) sometimes allows an energy output of the food preparation system 12 sufficient high to ignite cooking oil or exceed the combustion temperature of what is being prepared; and thus present a fire hazard. An advantage of the present disclosure is that this fire hazard can be avoided by selectively locating the limit pin 18 so that its pin member 22 projects through a particular one of the openings 24 in the restrictor plate 16; and anchoring the restrictor plate 16 so that the stem 13 is rotatable with respect to the restrictor plate 16. With the restrictor plate 16 in place and pin member 22 extending past the deck 40 (FIG. 3), the knob 14 is set over the restrictor plate 16 and the stem 13 inserts into the receptacle 32 (FIG. 2). When the knob 14 (and stem 13) is rotated, which angularly displaces the web members 36, 38, a one of the web members 36, 38 comes into interfering contact with the pin member 22. The openings 24 are formed in the restrictor plate 16 at multiple locations; but along a path that is less than 3600, so that when the limit pin 18 is set into one of the openings 24, the limit pin 18 limits the angular rotation of the knob 14 to an amount that is less than its maximum setting. Accordingly, strategically disposing the limit pin 18 so that the pin member 22 protrudes through a particular or designated one of the openings 24 at an angular location along the circular path on which the openings 24 are arranged, governs a maximum amount of energy that can be delivered to the food preparation system 12, and thus can regulate the amount of thermal energy being applied to what is being heated with the food preparation system 12. Strategically setting the limit pin 18 into a designated opening 24 prevents what is being cooked or heated with the food preparation system 12 from combusting or igniting. Moreover, with implementation of the energy setting assembly 10 onto a food preparation system 12, a power output of the food preparation system 12 can be limited to an amount that is less than a maximum power amount of the food preparation system 12.

The present invention described herein, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as others inherent therein. While a presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been given for purposes of disclosure, numerous changes exist in the details of procedures for accomplishing the desired results. For example, the energy setting assembly is not limited to controlling energy for food preparation systems, but can be used in conjunction with any knob or handle that when adjusted controls an associated flow. Example controls include knobs that control a flow of fluid, where the fluid can be a gas or liquid, and where the fluid can be hot or cold. Other controls include mixing valves, such as for mixing together fluids of different temperatures so that the fluid exiting the valve is does not extend past a designated temperature or flow rate. These and other similar modifications will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and are intended to be encompassed within the spirit of the present invention disclosed herein and the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An energy setting assembly for use with a food preparation system comprising: a knob having a receptacle that selectively couples with an energy controller that regulates thermal output of the food preparation system, so that moving the knob moves the energy controller to selectively adjust thermal output of the food preparation system; a web member coupled to and extending radially from the receptacle and that follows a path when the knob is actuated; a restrictor plate affixed to be stationary with respect to the knob; openings formed at different locations in the restrictor plate; and a limit pin having a portion protruding through a one of the openings and into the path of the web member, so that when the web member contacts the limit pin and blocks further movement of the knob, the energy controller regulates thermal output of the food preparation system to a designated value which is less than a maximum thermal output of the food preparation system.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the restrictor plate comprises a disk like member that comprises a planar deck, and wherein the openings are formed through the deck.
 3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the openings are formed along a generally curved path along the deck.
 4. The assembly of claim 2, wherein a center portion of the deck is recessed and contains holes that receive fasteners for securing the restrictor plate to the food preparation system.
 5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein a slot is formed adjacent the holes.
 6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the limit pin comprises a base that is generally planar and has a curved lateral surface and an upper surface, and a pin member that mounts to the upper surface, and wherein the pin member protrudes through the selective openings in the restrictor plate.
 7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the curved lateral surface of the base corresponds to an outer circumference of a recessed portion of the restrictor plate.
 8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the knob comprises a base portion with curved sidewalls that define a cavity within in which the receptacle and web members are located, and wherein the limit pin protrudes into the cavity.
 9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the energy controller is selected from the group consisting of a rheostat and a control valve for regulating a flow of fuel to the food preparation system.
 10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the food preparation system is selected from the group consisting of an electric stovetop, a gas stovetop, an oven, a grill, and combinations thereof.
 11. An energy setting assembly for use with a food preparation system comprising: a restrictor plate having openings formed therethrough; a knob that is rotatable with respect to the restrictor plate and that is for attachment to an energy controller that regulates a thermal energy output of the food preparation system, so that rotating the knob in turn rotates the energy controller and adjusts the thermal energy output of the food preparation system; a web member in the knob; and a limit pin strategically inserted through a one of the openings in the restrictor plate, so that when the knob is rotated a designated amount, the web member is put into interfering contact against the limit pin, and energy controller is at an angular orientation which regulates the thermal energy output of the food preparation system to be at an amount that is less than a designated thermal energy output.
 12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the designated thermal energy output is sufficient to heat an amount of cooking oil to a temperature that exceeds a flashpoint of the cooking oil.
 13. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the openings are formed along a curved path.
 14. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the knob and restrictor plate are generally coaxial with one another.
 15. The assembly of claim 11, wherein an outer portion of the restrictor plate defines a ring, and which as a radius greater than a radius of the knob.
 16. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the thermal energy output is from one of a burner or a heating element. 